Recent News

East Central University’s Dr. Michael D. Bay was recently commissioned into the U.S. Navy (Reserve) Medical Service Corps as a medical entomology officer. Bay, a professor of biology at ECU, was sworn in as a lieutenant commander in front of his class on Sept. 26, 2012. He is making a lateral transfer from the U.S. Army Reserve, where he had eight years of service as a medical entomology officer (major) with a tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2009-2010. Bay has been on the ECU faculty since 1995. Swearing in Bay is lieutenant commander Sharon Chan.

The late Virgil Taylor made an impression on Michael O’Brien as a friend and colleague.

Now O’Brien, executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, makes sure that Taylor’s legacy is being carried on through East Central University’s Virgil Taylor Scholarship, which has grown to $15,000.

East Central University students now have the opportunity to gain early admittance to the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health and Sciences in Tulsa.

The OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine seeks to admit students who desire to become primary care physicians in rural and underserved Oklahoma. The Rural and Underserved Primary Care Early Admissions Program allows ECU students to complete pre-doctoral medical training in seven years.

The 2012 Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, hosted by the East Central University Human Resources Club, will take place on Monday, Nov. 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pontotoc County Agriplex, located at 1710 N. Broadway in Ada.

The meal is free to everyone in the Ada community as turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls and dessert will be served.

The East Central University Dance Ensemble, Collage, is currently engaged in fundraising efforts in support of an artist-in-residency project. The ensemble is offering academic year calendars at a cost of $8. The project will provide support fees/expenses to bring Jon Lehrer of LehrerDance, of Buffalo, N.Y., to the ECU campus. Lehrer will set new work and conduct a four-day intensive clinic to Collage members.

Friends, family members and former colleagues of Dr. Norman Frame were on hand to witness the dedication of a commemorative bench honoring the former East Central University professor of education on Nov. 3.

The new bench joins approximately 30 memorial benches in the Frank R. Crabtree, Sr. Honor Plaza.

Frame came to Ada and ECU in 1964 from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. At ECU, he served as director of elementary education. He also taught elementary school methods courses in mathematics, reading, language arts and elementary curriculum.

East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community
interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area,
East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.